Psychological thriller set around BATON ROUGE, Louisiana
Novel set on the Italian-American Riviera and CARRARA, Italy
3rd November 2025
The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani, novel set on the Italian-American Riviera and Carrara, Italy.
I never knew knew there was a Lake Como in NJ! That is the so-called Italian-American Riviera and this is where the novel opens, Jess is in the heart of the Capodimonte/Baratta family, who are marble importers. She is just one of the family members involved in Capodimonte Marble and Stone. The author beautifully sets the scene of this Italian American clan but Uncle Louie indicates he would like to step back from the business and sees Jess as the natural successor. For her to understand the industry, it is essential that she makes her first trip to Carrara to experience the marvels of marble first hand. But before she can set off, she has to face a family bereavement, she has to confront her parents about financial issues and finds herself embroiled in tax issues that seem gargantuan. Despite all this, she finds the wherewithal to head off to Italy.
The author beautifully sets the scene and the reader can almost hear the family talking in New Jersey-Italian accents (OK, I have watched the Sopranos). There is chaos and family dynamics, food and pizazz, all the hallmarks of Italian life.
“Italy is the great healer” and that proves more than true for this young woman, who has never left America and suffers from anxiety. She is having therapy for various issues that afflict her. Taking a trip to Italy proves to be a refreshing change (after all everything is ‘fresher’ In Italy in so many ways) as she explores the marble quarries, seeing Louie’s wall, where, 50 year later they are still cutting from the face. She is in the very same place as her ancestors and where the renowned Renaissance sculptor, Michelangelo chose his raw materials.
From Carrara she heads out for truffle hunting in Siena and to Christmas in Milan (the city is described as “..statuesque, a Gustav Klimt creation; tall, slender, swathed in beige, and left out in the rain…“). As she explores the area, she casts her mind back to times with her family and her ex husband, Bobby, ruminating on the dynamics and relationships and seeking closure on certain aspects. Italy is a time for reflection and atonement and the opportunity to find out more about her family – which indeed, she does, with a surprise along the way. And just maybe her heart is open for a new relationship….
The story bowls along at a good clip, it is written with a light hand whilst dealing with emotional family issues, and overall it is tremendous on setting. This is a novel for fans of Karen Swan.
Given the focus on the New Jersey location, I do feel the book cover is misleading because you would imagine that the story is largely set around the Italian – the original – Lake Como depicted (which only gets a short look-in of a few of pages). To be honest, I felt a little conned as much of the story is set in New Jersey.
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